First sentencing of an Oregon occupation defendant nets him two and a half years

Corey Laquieu

Corey Lequieu on Tuesday became the first defendant in the January armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon to be sentenced to prison, receiving 2½, Rebecca Woolington reports for The Oregonian. His prison term will be followed by three years of supervised release. He also must pay restitution in an amount to be determined later. Of the 26 defendants, 10 have pleaded guilty.

Lequieu, who was charged with conspiracy, "admitted to impeding federal employees through threats, intimidation or force from working at the refuge outside Burns," Woolington writes. While the charge carries six years, "federal prosecutors recommended that Lequieu serve less time as part of a plea agreement and under sentencing guidelines. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Gabriel said the government considered that Lequieu was the first in the case to take responsibility when making the offer."

"Lequieu's defense attorney, Ramon Pagan, told the court that he and his client were grateful that they reached an agreement with the government without Lequieu agreeing to testify against other defendants in the case," Woolington writes.